(L–R) Katy O’Brian and Kristen Stewart star in Rose Glass’ thriller “Love Lies Bleeding,” which premiered in the Midnight section at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
By Lucy Spicer
After a lengthy February — a whole 29 days! — March has arrived, bringing with it longer days, the promise of spring, and a new batch of Sundance-supported releases. This month, audiences can enjoy three narrative features in theaters and one documentary available to stream.
Among these releases — which include two Sundance Film Festival award winners — are an ode to Iranian motherhood (just in time for Persian New Year on March 19), a muscular thriller starring Sundance regulars Kristen Stewart and Ed Harris, a cinematic portrait of iconic artist Frida Kahlo, and a magical satire about a problematic film trope.
Shayda — Writer-director Noora Niasari’s powerful feature debut follows Shayda (Zar Amir Ebrahimi), an Iranian woman living with her young daughter, Mona, in a women’s shelter in Australia. In the midst of divorce proceedings after fleeing her abusive husband, Shayda is trying to make the most of new beginnings as Nowruz — Persian New Year — approaches. But when a judge grants her husband unsupervised visitation rights with Mona, Shayda must summon her courage once more. Niasari based the titular character on her own mother, whose memoirs inspired the film. Shayda premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic. Arriving in select theaters March 1.
Love Lies Bleeding — When bodybuilder Jackie (Katy O’Brian) arrives in small-town New Mexico with big competition dreams, quiet gym manager Lou (Kristen Stewart) is instantly smitten. But their romance grows complicated as Jackie gets better acquainted with Lou’s family, including her sister (Jena Malone), abusive brother-in-law (Dave Franco), and weapon-smuggling gun range owner of a father (Ed Harris). Twists and turns abound in this fleshy thriller, which will have you on the edge of your seat until the final act. Director and co-writer Rose Glass premiered her stylish, daring, visceral sophomore feature in the Midnight section at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Coming to theaters March 8.
FRIDA — There’s no shortage of films about Frida Kahlo, but this is the first documentary where the famed artist speaks for herself. Director Carla Guttiérez crafted her feature around Kahlo’s print interviews, essays, diary entries, and letters to loved ones, allowing the painter to tell her own story. This expertly constructed documentary incorporates photos, archival footage, and animation to bring Kahlo’s life and experiences into vivid color. Guttiérez also served as the editor for her directorial debut, which took home the Jonathan Oppenheim Editing Award: U.S. Documentary following its premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Streaming on Amazon Prime Video March 14.
The American Society of Magical Negroes — In 2001, filmmaker Spike Lee popularized the term “Magical Negro” to describe the cinematic trope of the Black supporting character whose sole purpose is to use their otherworldly wisdom to help the white protagonist. Writer-director Kobi Libii puts this supporting stock character in the spotlight with his fantastical satire, which sees Aren (Justice Smith) get recruited by a mysterious figure (played by David Alan Grier) to join a magical society that will assign him to assist a designated white guy in an effort to keep society a peaceful place. Libii developed his first feature at Sundance Institute’s Directors and Screenwriters Labs in 2019 before debuting the film in the Premieres section at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Coming to theaters March 15.
The 2023 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour is underway! Traveling to all corners of the United States and beyond in the following months, the 90-minute program features seven short films selected from the 2023 Festival. Check here for dates and venues; see below for dates in March.
- Bloomington, Indiana, March 1, Buskirk-Chumley Theater
- Potsdam, New York, March 3, Cinema 10
- Lake Worth, Florida, March 29–31, Lake Worth Playhouse
